Cruzeiro offered Uruguayan youngster Rodriguez

Cruzeiro have been offered a deal for Uruguayan attacking midfielder Maximiliano Rodriguez as part of a suggested partnership with Montevideo Wanderers.

Rodriguez, 22, was thought to have agreed a deal to join Serie A side Pescara, but that transfer has been thrown into doubt by the possibility that he will first move to Brazil.

"Maxi can learn a lot from playing in Brazil," Edgar Goulart, the businessman negotiating the clubs' partnership told Lance. "The country is a reference for the sport and he will add a lot of value if he were to sign for a club of Cruzeiro's standing.

"In one of the conversations [Cruzeiro director of football] Alexandre Mattos asked me who is the most interesting Wanderers player. I told him he could go after Maxi Rodriguez.

"He is a young player, fast and very skilled. I like him a lot. It would be interesting for Cruzeiro to have him as there is the possibility of selling to Europe."

The Uruguayan went on to compare the youngster to Bernard, the rising star of Cruzeiro's city rivals Atlético Mineiro.

There is some confusion, however, with a spokesman for Montevideo Wanderers insisting that the player had signed with Pescara.

"There is a proposal from Pescara. That's true," countered Goulart. "Victor Mesa [Montevideo owner] is in Spain talking to the club. But, nothing is certain and there is a chance he will play for Cruzeiro."